Car shipping apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for shipping automobiles or other motor vehicles in a larger transporting vehicle. The transporting vehicle has doors that are supported for pivotal movement about a horizontally disposed axis positioned at a lower corner of the vehicle. The doors are pivotable from an opened position in which the transported vehicles may be placed side-by-side on the doors to a closed positions in which the transported vehicles are disposed generally on their sides, one above the other. An improved arrangement is provided for tying down the cars or transported vehicles on the door so as to prevent damage when the door pivots to its closed position. This tie down arrangement simultaneously locks on to the vehicle frame or under carriage and draws the vehicle downwardly to compress its suspension system during transit. The locking members of the tie down arrangement are positioned for access through openings in the door. In one embodiment of the invention, closures automatically cover these openings when the door moves to its closed position.

United States Patent 1191 Bennett Jan. 29, 1974 CAR SHIPPING APPARATUSPrimary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. KingHarness et al. [75] Inventor: James R. Bennett, New Boston,

Mich. [731 Assignee: Evans Products Company, [57] ABSTRACT Plymouth,Mich. An apparatus for shipping automobiles or other motor vehicles in alarger transporting vehicle. The trans- [22] Filed 1972 porting vehiclehas doors that are supported for piv- [21 Appl. No.: 242,924 otalmovement about a horizontally disposed axis positioned at a lower comerof the vehicle. The doors are a pivotable from an opened position inwhich the trans- [52] US. Cl 105/368 R, 105/368 T ported vehicles y beplaced side by side on the [51] Int. Cl B60p 7/08, B6ld 45/00 d l d h tht t d [58] Field of Search 105/368 R, 368 T, 369 A; F a c Posmons e280/179 248/119 R 361A vehlcles are dlsposed generally on then s1des,one

above the other. An lmproved arrangement 15 provided for tying down thecars or transported vehicles [56] References C'ted on the door so as toprevent damage when the door UNITED STATES PATENTS pivots to its closedposition. This tie down arrange? 3,661,098 5/1972 Jaekle et al. 105/368R ment Simultaneously locks on to the vehicle frame of 3,605,636 9/1971Blunden et al. 105/368 T und r carriag and draws the ehicle downwardlyto 1,780,277 11/1930 Seeley et al. 105/368T compress its suspensionsystem during transit. The 1,753,838 4/1930 Seeley 105/368 T lockingmembers of the tie down arrangement are p 2,154,309 4/1959 Hoose 105/368R sitioned f access through openings in the door In 212271870 194] f105/368 R one embodiment of the invention, closures automatiijiijii2513?? 351311713...............::::J: 182/323 8819 these Openings whenthe door moves to its closed position.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PMENTEU JAN 2 9 I974 XHtET 2 OF 3 PATENTEI]JAN 2 9 I974 SHEET 3 BF 3 CAR SHIPPING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a device for shipping automobiles orlike vehicles in a large transporting vehicle and an improved tie downfor tying down vehicles during shipment.

A large percentage of the automotive vehicles manufactured are shippedfrom assembly plants to distribution points by railway. Conventionallythis has been done on a so called tri-level car. These cars have openrack like frames on which the automobiles are shipped in tiers of three.There are certain disadvantages to this type of shipment, the primebeing that the transported automobiles are exposed and subject tovandalism and theft.

It has been proposed, therefore, to ship automobiles in closed railwaycars. However, normal box car type shipping of automobiles seriouslylimits the number of automobiles that may be shipped in a given railcar. It has been proposed to construct a special automotive transportingrailroad car having large doors on to which automobiles are placed.These doors pivot about a horizontally disposed axis so that theautomobile is transported in a vertical orientation with one of its endsfacing downwardly. This type of shipping method is shown in U.S. Pat.No. 3,613,914, entitled Apparatus For Opening And Closing DoorsPivotally Attached To A Railway Car issued in the name of William M.Jackle et al. on Oct. 19, 1971. A disadvantage with this type ofshipping method is that it will only handle relatively smallautomobiles. Full size automobiles require a greater railroad car heightthan present right of way conditions can accommodate.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide animproved device for shipping automobiles within a specially constructedtransporting vehicle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved devicefor transporting automobiles on a railroad car in which the automobilesare positioned in side-by-side relationship on a door of the vehiclethat is pivotal about a horizontally disposed axis.

In most methods of transporting automobiles or other similar vehicles ona larger transporting vehicle it is essential to tie the transportedvehicle down to the transporting vehicle during transit. The transportedvehicle should be held in place on the transporting vehicle. Also, ithas been found advantageous to hold the springs of the transportedvehicle under compression by drawing down the suspended portion of thevehicle toward the transporting vehicle. Previously proposed tie downshave included a fitting that is fixed to a track on the transportingvehicle to determine the position of the transported vehicle thereupon.This fitting normally includes an integral winch for tensioning aflexible member that is attached to the vehicle frame and for drawingthe vehicle down on its springs. This winch adds considerable cost tothe tie down and make it a generally bulky arrangement.

It is, therefore, a further object of this invention to provide animproved tie down for the transportation of motor vehicles.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved automotivetie down that does not incorporate a special winch but whichnevertheless compresses the vehicular springs during transportation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first feature of the invention is adapted tobe embodied in a device for shipping automobiles on a transportingvehicle. A device includes a load carrying door that is adapted to forma closure for a portion of the transporting vehicle. The door ispivotally connected to the transporting vehicle for movement about ahorizontally disposed axis between an opened, loading position and aclosed position. Means are provided on the door for receiving at leastone automobile facing in a direction parallel to the pivot axis. Tiedown means tie the automobile to the door for movement with the doorfrom a substantially normal position to a generally on its side positionas the door is moved from its loading position to its closed position.

Another feature of this invention is adapted to be embodied in a tiedown for tying down vehicles or the like for shipment. The tie downincludes a vehicle engaging member that is adapted to be affixedrelative to a sprung portion of the transported vehicle. A lockingmember is provided, which locking member is movable from a releasedposition to a locking position for affixing the tie down in apreselected position. Means simultaneously move the locking member toits locked position and move the vehicle engaging member in a directionto load the springs that carry the sprung portion of the vehicle engagedby the vehicle engaging member.

Still a further feature of this invention is adapted to be embodied in atie down assembly for tying down vehicles for shipment relative to apair of longitudinally extending transversely spaced tracks. The tiedown assembly includes a cross piece adapted to extend between thetracks. Locking means are carried by the cross piece for locking thecross piece in preselected longitudinal positions relative to the track.A tie down is provided that has means for detachably affixing the tiedown to the transported vehicle and locking means for locking the tiedown to the cross piece in preselected transverse positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of arailroad car embodying this invention for adapting the car to thetransportation of automotive vehicles.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the doors of the carshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view showing aportion of the tie down mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing another portion ofthe tie down mechanism in its released position.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view, in part similar to FIG.

4 showing the tie down portion in its locked position.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view, in part similar to FIG. 1, showinganother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view, in part similar to FIG. 6, showing the load carryingdoor and associated components in its closed position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF- THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first tothe embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5, a specially constructed railroadcar embodying this invention is identified generally by the referencenumeral 11. The car 11 is particularly adapted to carry a plurality ofautomobiles or other motor vehicles, indicated by the reference numerals12, from assembly to distribution points. The car 11 has a pair ofspecially constructed doors 13 that are pivotal about a horizontallydisposed position from an opened position, as shown on the right-handside of FIG. 1, to a closed position, as shown on the left-hand side ofthis Figure. In the opened position, the automobiles 12 may be driven orotherwise loaded on to the door 13. When the door 13 pivots to itsclosed position the automobiles 12 are transported on their side in avertically stacked relationship.

The construction of the door 13 may best be understood by reference toFIG. 2, wherein a portion of one of these doors is shown in perspective.The door 13 is a structural member and includes pairs of tracks 14 thatform guide ways for the wheels 15 of the vehicle 12. The guide ways ortracks 14 extend longitudinally of the door and parallel to its pivotaxis. Any number of pairs of tracks 14 may be formed on the door 13 inside-by-side relationship. In the illustrated embodiment, two such pairsof tracks are provided. The doors 13 may also have any desired length.They may extend the full length of the rail car 1 1 or may be only ofsufficient length to accommodate one row of automobiles.

A locking track in the form of an inwardly facing channel 16 isjuxtaposed to each track 14. The locking tracks 16 are formed with aplurality of longitudinally spaced openings 17. A tie down mechanism,indicated generally by the reference numeral 18 cooperates with thetracks 16 for locking the automobiles 12 in place. One tie downmechanism 18 is positioned contiguous to each end of each automobile 12.These tie down mechanisms will be described by particular reference toFIGS. 2 through 5.

The tie down mechanism 18 includes a cross bar 19 of hollow tubularform. The ends of the cross bar 19 are positioned within the ends of thechannel shaped locking track 16 so that the cross bar 19 may be slid toany desired longitudinal position relative to the door 13. Locking pins21 are supported for reciprocation within the cross member 19 by a pairof apertured plates 22 and 23. A coil compression spring 24 encirclesthe pin 21 and acts against the plate 23 and a plate 25 that is fixed tothe locking pin 21 for urging the locking pin to an extended position.In this position, the pin 21 is adapted to extend through selectedapertures 17 of the locking track 16 for locking the cross bar 19 in thepreselected longitudinal position.

The plate 25 has a rearwardly bent portion 26 in which an aperture 27 isformed. The aperture 27 underlies an elongated slot 28 formed in theupper surface of the cross bar 19. A suitable tool may be insertedthrough the slot 28 and into the aperture 27 for with drawing thelocking pin 21 against the action of the spring 24. When the lockingpins 21 at each end of the cross bar 19 are released the cross bar 19may be slid to any desired longitudinal position.

The upper end of the cross bar 19 carries a serrated rack 29. Tie downfittings 31 cooperate with the teeth of the rack 29 for affixing theunderframe of the vehicle 12 in preselected longitudinal positionsrelative to the door 13 and for compressing the springs of the vehicle12.

The tie down fittings 31 are best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and includegenerally U-shaped pieces 32 that have depending legs which arepositioned at opposite sides of the cross member 19. A rack 33 isaffixed to the cross leg of the piece 32 and faces in a downwarddirection toward the serrated rack 29 of the cross member 19. A shaft 34is journalled in aligned apertures formed in the extending legs of themember 32 and below the lower surface of the cross member 19. Aneccentric 35 is fixed to the shaft 34 between the legs of the member 32and is rotatable between a released position (FIG. 4) and a lockedposition (FIG. 5). A notch 36 is formed in the eccentric 35 for theinsertion of a locking pin 37 to retain the eccentric 35 in its lockedposition.

Affixed to the upper side of the member 32 is a vehicle engaging portion38 that has an outwardly extending pin part 39. The pin part 39 isadapted to extend into an aperture 41 formed in the frame 42 of thevehicle 12. The term frame" is used herein to define either the frame ofa frame type vehicle or any suitable structural member of a so calledframeless or unitized vehicle. In either event, the member 42 shouldform a portion of the sprung mass of the vehicle.

OPERATION Each of the doors 13 is connected to the rail car structure 11in a suitable manner by means including a hinge arrangement 43 (FIG. 1).The hinge structure 43 supports the door 13 for its pivotal movementabout a horizontally disposed axis that extends longitudinally of thecar 11 contiguous to its lower corner. The cross members 19 areappropriately locked in place on the locking track 16 so as toaccommodate the size of automobiles 12 to be shipped. At this time, thefittings 31 will be loose on the cross member 19. In this position, theteeth of the racks 33 and 39 will be in engagement as shown in FIG. 5,but the cam 35 will be rotated to its released position as shown in FIG.4. The vehicles 12 are then driven or otherwise placed on the open door13. The outer edge of the door 13 preferably is supported in anysuitable manner, as by a stanchion 45. When the automobiles 12 are inplace on the door 13 an operator passes beneath the door 13 andregisters the locking pins 39 with the frame apertures 41 as shown inFIG. 4. When this is down, the vehicles 12 stand at their normal unladenheight. The cams 35 are then rotated by means of any suitable type oftool from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5.As the eccentric cam 35 engages the underside of the cross member 19 thevehicle engaging member 38 and remainder of the tie down fitting 31 isthen drawn vertically downwardly. Because of its engagement with thesprung portion of the vehicle, the vehicle will also be drawn downwardlycompressing its springs. This rotation is continued until the tie downfitting teeth 33 engage the cross member teeth 29. Thus, the vehicle 12is not only tied down but simultaneously the tie down fittings 31 arelocked in lateral position relative to the cross member 19. It should benoted that the length of the rack 29 is sufficient so as to accommodatevehicles of widely varying widths.

Once tied down, the door 13 may be pivoted about the axis defined by thehinges 43 to its closed position as shown in the left-hand side ofFIG. 1. The vehicles 12 are held in place by the tie down mechanism andwill not become damaged during shipment.

lt should be noted that access openings are formed in the doors so as topermit locking and tying down of the fittings 31. To prevent accidentalor unauthorized release of these fittings it is desirable to provide aclosure for these door openings. A structure providing such a closurewhich is automatic in operation is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 6through 8.

In this embodiment, the door 13 has openings 51 that are positionedbetween each of the tracks 14. .luxtaposed to the openings 51 is arespective closure plate 52 that is supported for pivotal movementrelative to the door 13 by a pivot pin 53. An operating link 55 ispivotally connected at one of its ends of the rail car 11 by means ofapivot pin 56. The pivot pin 56 is disposed immediately above the pivotaxis of the door 13.

The outer end of the actuating link 55 is connected by means of a pivotpin 57 to a shorter link 58. The other end of the link 58 is affixed tothe closure mem ber 52 immediately adjacent the rail car 11. A parallellink 59 is connected between the pivot pin 57 and a pivot pin 61 carriedat the upper end of a second short link 62. The short link 62 isconnected to the outermost closure member 52.

FIG. 6 illustrates the mechanism when the door 13 is in its openedposition. As the door 13 is pivoted to its closed position, the link 55will exert a pressure through the pivot pin 57 on the link 58. A similarpressure will be exerted on the link 62 by the link 59. These pressurescauses the closure members 52 to pivot in a clockwise direction abouttheir pivot pins 53 as the door 13 is swung closed. When the door 13 isfully closed (FIG. 7) the closure members 52 will completely cover theapertures 51. It should be readily apparent that the closure members 52cannot be opened in this condition without opening of the door 13. Whenthe door 13 is opened, the closure members 52 will automatically open.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is that ofpreferred embodiments of the invention. Various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for shipping automobiles in a transporting vehiclecomprising a load carrying door adapted to form a closure for a portionof the transporting vehicle, means for pivotally connecting said door tothe transporting vehicle for movement about a horizontally disposed axisfrom an opened, leading position to a closed position, means on saiddoor for receiving at least one automobile facing in a directionparallel to said pivot axis, means for tying the automobile to said doorfor movement therewith from a substantially normal position to agenerally on its side position as said door is moved from its loading toits closed position, said means for tying the automobile to the doorincluding a cross bar movable to preselected longitudinal positionsrelative to the door and a tie down fitting engageable with theautomobile and selectively lockable to said cross bar. an access openingin the door through which said tie down fitting may be located to saidcrossmember, a closure member pivotally supported upon the door adjacentsaid access opening, and means for automatically moving said closuremember from an opened position to a closed position across said accessopening when said door moves from its opened position to its closedposition.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are means on the doorfor receiving at least a second automobile facing in a directionparallel to the direction the first automobile faces so that theautomobiles are stacked vertically one above the other when the door isin its closed position and means for tying the second automobile to thedoor.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for tying theautomobile to the door comprises a pair of longitudinally extendinglocking tracks fixed relative to the door, a cross bar adapted to spansaid locking tracks, means carried at the opposite ends of said crossbar for locking said cross bar to said locking tracks in preselectedlongitudinal positions, a pair of tie down fittings adapted to beaffixed relative to the frame of the associated vehicle, and means forselectively locking said tie down fittings to said cross bar atpreselected transverse locations.

4. A tie down for tying down vehicles or the like for shipment, said tiedown including a vehicle engaging member adapted to be fixed relative toa sprung portion of the transported vehicle, a locking member affixed tosaid vehicle engaging member and movable from a released position to alocking position, means cooperating with said locking member when in itslocked position for affixing said tie down against movement and in apreselected position, and and eccentric cam supported for rotation aboutan axis that extends perpendicularly to the direction of movement ofsaid locking member and cooperating therewith for simultaneously movingsaid locking member to its locked position and for moving said vehicleengaging member in a direction to load the springs supporting the sprungportion of the vehicle engaged by said vehicle engaging member rotationof said eccentric cam about said axis.

5. A tie down as set forth in claim 4 wherein the locking member and thecooperating means comprise serrated racks.

6. A tie down as set forth in claim 4 adapted to be used in conjunctionwith a pair of transversely spaced tracks, the cooperating meanscomprising a cross bar adapted to extend between the tracks and lockingmeans carried by said cross bar for locking said cross bar inpreselected longitudinal positions relative to the tracks.

7. A tie down as set forth in claim 5 adapted to be used in conjunctionwith a pair of transversely spaced tracks, the cooperating meanscomprising a cross bar adapted to extend between the tracks and lockingmeans carried by said cross bar for locking said cross bar inpreselected longitudinal positions relative to the tracks.

8. A device for shipping automobiles in a transporting vehiclecomprising a load carrying door adapted to form a closure for a portionof the transporting vehicle, means for pivotally connecting said door tothe transporting vehicle for movement about a horizontally disposed axisfrom an opened, loading position to a closed position, means on saiddoor for receiving at least one automobile facing in a directionparallel to said pivotal axis, a pair of longitudinally extendinglocking tracks fixed relative to said door, a cross bar adapted to spansaid locking tracks, means carried at the opposite ends of said crossbar for locking said cross bar to said longitudinal tracks inpreselected longitudinal positions, a pair of tie down fittings adaptedto be affixed relative to the frame of the associated vehicle, means forselecand for tying the automobile to said door for movement therewithfrom a substantially normal position to a generally on its side positionas said door is moved from its loading position to its closed position.

1. A device for shipping automobiles in a transporting vehiclecomprising a load carrying door adapted to form a closure for a portionof the transporting vehicle, means for pivotally connecting said door tothe transporting vehicle for movement about a horizontally disposed axisfrom an opened, leading position to a closed position, means on saiddoor for receiving at least one automobile facing in a directionparallel to said pivot axis, means for tying the automobile to said doorfor movement therewith from a substantially normal position to agenerally on its side position as said door is moved from its loading toits closed position, said means for tying the automobile to the doorincluding a cross bar movable to preselected longitudinal positionsrelative to the door and a tie down fitting engageable with theautomobile and selectively lockable to said cross bar, an access openingin the door through which said tie down fitting may be located to saidcross member, a closure member pivotally supported upon the dooradjacent said access opening, and means for automatically moving saidclosure member from an opened position to a closed position across saidaccess opening when said door moves from its opened position to itsclosed position.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein there aremeans on the door for receiving at least a second automobile facing in adirection parallel to the direction the first automobile faces so thatthe automobiles are stacked vertically one above the other when the dooris in its closed position and means for tying the second automobile tothe door.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means fortying the automobile to the door comprises a pair of longitudinallyextending locking tracks fixed relative to the door, a cross bar adaptedto span said locking tracks, means carried at the opposite ends of saidcross bar for locking said cross bar to said locking tracks inpreselected longitudinal positions, a pair of tie down fittings adaptedto be affixed relative to the frame of the associated vehicle, and meansfor selectively locking said tie down fittings to said cross bar atpreselected transverse locations.
 4. A tie down for tying down vehiclesor the like for shipment, said tie down including a vehicle engagingmember adapted to be fixed relative to a sprung portion of thetransported vehicle, a locking member affixed to said vehicle engagingmember and movable from a released position to a locking position, meanscooperating with said locking member when in its locked position foraffixing said tie down againsT movement and in a preselected position,and and eccentric cam supported for rotation about an axis that extendsperpendicularly to the direction of movement of said locking member andcooperating therewith for simultaneously moving said locking member toits locked position and for moving said vehicle engaging member in adirection to load the springs supporting the sprung portion of thevehicle engaged by said vehicle engaging member rotation of saideccentric cam about said axis.
 5. A tie down as set forth in claim 4wherein the locking member and the cooperating means comprise serratedracks.
 6. A tie down as set forth in claim 4 adapted to be used inconjunction with a pair of transversely spaced tracks, the cooperatingmeans comprising a cross bar adapted to extend between the tracks andlocking means carried by said cross bar for locking said cross bar inpreselected longitudinal positions relative to the tracks.
 7. A tie downas set forth in claim 5 adapted to be used in conjunction with a pair oftransversely spaced tracks, the cooperating means comprising a cross baradapted to extend between the tracks and locking means carried by saidcross bar for locking said cross bar in preselected longitudinalpositions relative to the tracks.
 8. A device for shipping automobilesin a transporting vehicle comprising a load carrying door adapted toform a closure for a portion of the transporting vehicle, means forpivotally connecting said door to the transporting vehicle for movementabout a horizontally disposed axis from an opened, loading position to aclosed position, means on said door for receiving at least oneautomobile facing in a direction parallel to said pivotal axis, a pairof longitudinally extending locking tracks fixed relative to said door,a cross bar adapted to span said locking tracks, means carried at theopposite ends of said cross bar for locking said cross bar to saidlongitudinal tracks in preselected longitudinal positions, a pair of tiedown fittings adapted to be affixed relative to the frame of theassociated vehicle, means for selectively locking said tie down fittingsto said cross bar at preselected transverse locations, and locking cammembers for simultaneously locking said tie down fittings to said crossmember and for drawing the automobile toward said cross bar forcompressing its springs and for tying the automobile to said door formovement therewith from a substantially normal position to a generallyon its side position as said door is moved from its loading position toits closed position.